Join other WOTC 4-H members AND EOTC 4-H members to celebrate your involvement in 4-H!

Enrolled 4-H members may register from 12:00-1:00PM and open swim is from 12:00-4:00PM

Cost: $5 per 4-H swimmer

An adult must be present with swimmers!

LEGO Club meets from 3:30 - 4:45PM in the Roosevelt Education Center for grades 4-6!

Contact Jessica at mohag150@umn.edu with any questions you may have.

Our PDCs' purpose is to provide a welcoming environment, hands-on learning, youth participation and leadership, and produce high quality projects. Here are the educational programs that Horse PDC has decided to pursue this 4-H year:

• Applying for State Fair Bonus Trip in 2025.
• Possibly host a retreat at the Fairgrounds to prepare for the 2025 WOTC Fair.
• Host a social and have an information board at the 2025 WOTC Fair to help answer questions.
• Seek and bring in clinicians.

You can view past minutes and agendas by clicking on the "Horse PDC Public Folder" below and clicking on the red folder titled "2024-2025 Meeting Minutes."

This conference is for 4-H'ers in grades 6+ and adult horse project leaders that includes speakers, educational workshops, and hands-on activities all focused on 4-H horse project learning!

Click HERE for more information!

⭐ Early bird registration ($125) closes on Thursday, January 2!⭐

⭐ Final registration ($135) closes on Friday, January 10!⭐

Refer to the event registration guide if you need assistance; contact Amy DeGroot at adegroot@umn.edu for questions about fees/deadlines and Renee Kostick at hinkx001@umn.edu for program information.

Our PDCs' purpose is to provide a welcoming environment, hands-on learning, youth participation and leadership, and produce high quality projects. Here are the educational programs that Livestock PDC has decided to pursue this 4-H year:

• Applying for State Fair Bonus Trip(s) in 2025.
• Distribute ribbons at 2025 WOTC Fair 4-H Livestock Shows.
• Present demonstrations for 4-H'ers and the general public at the 2025 WOTC Fair.
• Facilitate "Prepare for the Fair" event in June 2025.
• Possibly establish a Livestock Mentorship program.
• Seek and host professional clinics.
• Attend community club meetings to inform members what Livestock PDC has been up to! Want to request a Livestock PDC member to attend your club meeting? Talk to your club leader about what you would like to hear about more specifically; they have access to a request form!

You can view past minutes and agendas by clicking on the "Livestock PDC Public Folder" below by clicking on the red folder titled "2024-2025 Meeting Minutes."

This is an opportunity for committee members to review their roles, explore resources available to them, and learn from others across the state!

Current members and attendees of the WOTC 4-H Livestock PDC are highly encouraged to attend!

Please register to attend the webinar!

1. Review the Animal Science Identification Requirements and Animal Owner Requirements.

• Market animals may NOT be leased.
• After November 5, 2024, the MNBAH updated their livestock exhibition ID requirements to comply with the new USDA APHIS identification rule. Refer to the 2025 4-H Beef Identification Requirements to see more specific situations.

2. Check out the Animal Science Updates for 2025 - Beef Project Updates and the Beef Information Sheet 2025

• There are LOTS of changes for this year - especially in Beef Cattle - so please read through CAREFULLY!
• Please note that Cloverbuds do NOT need to identify Market Beef animals in 4-H Online; however, these animals do need to follow MNBAH ID exhibition requirements: Cloverbud Animal ID Letter

3. Purchase ear tags at the WOTC 4-H Extension Office: Ear Tag Information

• Tag your animal(s) appropriately no later than Tuesday, February 18.

4. Worksheets are a good way to collect data before entering it into 4-H Online. Please feel free to utilize:

• Market Beef ID Worksheet - Steer/Heifer & Dairy Steer

• If animal IDs are not submitted into 4-H Online by Tuesday, February 18 there are consequences that will occur.

For ALL animal identification information, visit the UMN Extension animal ID page!

1. Review the Animal Science Identification Requirements and Animal Owner Requirements.

• You may choose to LEASE the following animals: Horses, Dogs, Llamas/Alpacas, Breeding Beef, Prospect Calves, Dairy Cattle, Breeding Goats, Breeding Poultry, Breeding Rabbits, Breeding Sheep, and Breeding Swine. Market animals may NOT be leased. A Lease Information Form must be uploaded into 4-H Online by Thursday, May 15 as well.

2. Check out the Animal Science Updates for 2025 and necessary information sheets listed below.

• There are LOTS of changes for this year - especially in Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, and scrapies clarification - so please read through CAREFULLY!

3. Purchase ear tags at the WOTC 4-H Extension Office: Ear Tag Information

• Tag/tattoo your animals appropriately no later than Thursday, May 15.

4. Worksheets are a good way to collect data before you enter it into 4-H Online. Please feel free to utilize these as they are listed under the information sheets below.

• If animal IDs are not submitted into 4-H Online by Thursday, May 15 there are consequences that will occur.

BEEF CATTLE: Beef Information Sheet 2025

• 2025 4-H Beef Identification Requirements
• Beef ID Worksheet - Breeding Beef, Cow/Calf, Prospect Calf

DAIRY CATTLE: Dairy Cattle Information Sheet 2025

• Dairy Cattle ID Worksheet

DAIRY GOATS: Dairy Goat Information Sheet 2025

• Dairy Goat ID Worksheet

DOGS: Dog Information Sheet 2025

• Dog ID and Vaccination Form

HORSES: Horse Information Sheet 2025

• Horse ID Worksheet
• Horse Project Rule Book

LLAMAS/ALPACAS: Llama/Alpaca Information Sheet 2025

• Llama/Alpaca ID Worksheet

MEAT GOATS: Meat Goat Information Sheet 2025

• Market Goat ID Worksheet
• Meat Doe ID Worksheet

POULTRY: Poultry Information Sheet 2025

• ONLY Pigeons & Doves must be entered into 4-H Online by Thursday, May 15: Pigeon & Dove ID Worksheet.
• All other Poultry entries must be included in the 2025 WOTC Fair registration process via Fair Entry, which opens shortly after May 15, for stalling/penning purposes.
• Hatch dates that are more accurate to the 2025 WOTC Fair will be published in our Premium Book.

RABBITS: Rabbit Information Sheet 2025

• Rabbit ID Worksheet

SHEEP: Sheep Information Sheet 2025

• Sheep ID Worksheet

SWINE: Swine Information Sheet 2025

• Premise ID Information
• Swine ID Worksheet

CLOVERBUD ANIMALS:

• Cloverbuds may show their own animal or another 4-H'ers identified animal.
• Please note that Cloverbuds do NOT need to identify animals in 4-H Online; however, these animals DO need to follow MNBAH ID exhibition requirements: Cloverbud Animal ID Letter
• Cloverbud entries must be included in the 2025 WOTC Fair registration process via Fair Entry, which opens shortly after May 15, for stalling/penning purposes.

For ALL animal identification information, visit the UMN Extension animal ID page!

Participate in team building with your club and other clubs in WOTC 4-H!

Your Club Leaders will share further details about how to be on a Cloverbud, Junior, Senior, and/or Adult team this month!

Jessica and Brianna will be the primary contact for members, families, and volunteers while Rachel is unavailable during parental leave. Mallory Bergem will be the interim in place during Rachel's parental leave - starting on Monday, January 27 - that will continue carrying out her responsibilities and supporting Jessica and Brianna!

This year's theme - "THE ART OF LEADERSHIP" - will dive into hands-on activities that break down stereotypes, open minds to fresh perspectives, and spark creativity. Youth will discover how art and mental wellness connect, make an impact through creative stations for local causes, and explore what true leadership means in today's world.

There are four different locations BLU is hosted at throughout the month of February; the closest camp to WOTC will be held at Deep Portage near Hackensack, MN from February 22-23. The other location and date options are listed in the link and graphic below!

COST: $100

⭐ To learn more about BLU and register by January 10, visit z.umn.edu/4-HBLU! ⭐

Any questions? Contact Meg Clark at hintz101@umn.edu.

Youth in grades 9+ provide hands-on, fun, and interactive outdoor programming, lead cabin activities, and supervise all aspects of the campers' day at all three, two, or just one camps that are hosted! Selected camp counselors help plan camp and receive required counselor training throughout the planning process which provides valuable life skills from public speaking to program planning.

NEW in 2025: All counselors will attend an overnight 4-H Camp Counselor Training held on March 1-2 at Sand Hill Lake Bible Camp located near Fosston, MN.

⭐ Apply through z.umn.edu/NWCampCounselorApplication no later than January 10! ⭐

⭐ Registration through 4-H Online will open this spring! ⭐

More information to be released later.

Northern Lights is a MN 4-H Youth Development volunteer recognition opportunity designed to celebrate volunteer impact in key priority areas. The nomination process can be completed in about 15 minutes and all eligible Northern Lights nominees will also be considered for the National 4-H Salute to Excellence award. In 2025, we encourage nominations of volunteers who:

• Welcome our youngest 4-H members/families through designing and delivering Cloverbud programing
• Create learning environments for older youth that improve their self-concept, personal agency, resilience, and community connectivity
• Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility + create spaces of belonging and empowerment for MN youth of all identities

Nominate a volunteer or group of volunteers who bring light to their local program and community today! Learn more and nominate a volunteer; contact Jeremy Freeman at jeremyf@umn.edu if you have any questions.

CWF is a 4-H civic engagement experience for high school youth (completed 9th grade and at least 15 years of age but not older than 19) to connect with 500 other teens in the Washington D.C. area! There are workshops and discussions on how to create change in your local community; listening and learning from government speakers, young community leaders, and renowned journalists; and experience history though monuments, museums, and memorials! Plus, Minnesota 4-H participants also engage in virtual pre-trip education sessions designed to prepare them for the experience.

Click HERE for more information!

⭐ Apply by Wednesday, January 15 to compete in a selection process! ⭐ Youth will be notified of their selection status by Monday, January 27, 2025.

Cost: $2,600 - $3,000

Contact Randi Schwartz at schw1554@umn.edu for application and payment questions and Jacquie Lonning at jlonning@umn.edu for overall program and educational content questions.

YELLO includes educational workshops, group networking experiences, inspiring messages from speakers, field trips, and opportunities to contribute to the local community through service projects all planned and facilitated by the MN 4-H State Ambassadors. In 2025, the conference will be held at the University of Minnesota Morris!

⭐ Registration through 4-H Online will open on Tuesday, April 1! ⭐

More information to be released later.

Jessica Mohagen - Extension Educator:

• mohag150@umn.edu
• 218-731-8837

Rachel Wahlstrom - Extension Educator:

• joh12246@umn.edu
• 218-770-9648

Brianna Bischof - Administrative Specialist:

• bbischof@ottertailcounty.gov
• 218-998-8760

View past newsletters HERE!

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